Yikes! Stripes!

You know summer is approaching when the crazy stripey tan lines start showing up on the arms, shoulders, back, ankles and legs.

This, right here, is the result of a ride over the long weekend. I went to IL to visit with family. My mom lives in Effingham, which is 47 miles from my uncle, who lives on a lake in Olney. I decided to get some training in on some very flat land with a trip on my TT bike from mom's to uncle's on Saturday. 

Holy headwind! It's flat in south central Illinois, but damn is it windy! I had some demons to fight while riding. I literally screamed out loud at the wind at one point because it was just relentless. I'll take hills over wind anyday. The ride out (and against the wind) took me 2:16. And upon arrival, I ran down to the dock and jumped into the lake. That was followed by a beer, food, floating in the water, a ride on a jet ski, socializing with family...and then a ride back to Effingham. For perspective on that wind...it only took me 2:05 to get back, but the wind had died down (and no, it's not because i couldn't feel the benefit of a tailwind. i actually looked at the flagpoles). By the time I got back to mom's, I was beat! And Clubby and I laid down for a good night's sleep....

We awoke early the next morning to some crazy humidity. I mean, I checked the weather and it was 72 degrees with 94% humidity at 6:30 am. So, I set out for my run and decided that I'd just go as long as I could with the heat without hurting. I still had to drive to grandma's and then back home that day and I didn't want to be overly exhausted. Plus, I was just a week off TTT. I made it 1:15. with 4 water stops.

And then off to granny's for a visit. Meanwhile, the boy was back home meeting up with dad for a talk...more on that later.

Last week was just a whirlwind. And this week, while short, has been much the same. We're getting some crazy storms here now. And I just lost my toenail.

Other than that, I'm doing an Olympic tri at Deer Creek on Sunday. And then riding home from the race site (about 87 miles?). Some teammates are up in Quassy, CT doing the Rev3 Half this weekend. The following weekend, there is a 40k TT and I committed to a long ride after that with a friend. And the following day is Ride Cincinnati. Then the following weekend is a visit to CT myself and Father's Day! Big month. Lots happening!

Recovery

Recovery  (rĭ-kŭv'ə-rē) - A return to a normal condition.

Normal (nôr'məl) - The usual or expected state, form, amount, or degree.

(The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)


It's a recovery week. I thought I'd love this, that this week would be fun and light and full of short workouts in which I would feel fresh. I wanted to feel "normal". But I actually had to look up the meaning of the word because I'm still confused on how that's supposed to feel.

Turns out, I'm tired. And bloated. And my legs feel heavy. Is that normal? If so, I prefer to be an outsider.

In training news, we did a 500 for time at Masters practice on Tuesday. I just barely broke the 7min barrier with 6:59.6. It was after about 2k, so I'm not complaining. Much.

Spinervals last night and a run this morning that made me really want a massage.

Other than that, life is rather boring.

I did go to the tanning bed over my lunch break today. Ya know, for the Vit E. And maybe a little because I can't even bear (is that the correct usage, Zen?) to look at myself...bare. The pale pastiness has got to go. And I don't think that Vit E shot kicked in because my thought process on the way back to work went something like this.

[the song "Carnival" was playing on the radio] "hmm...I never really did like Natalie Merchant. Just something about her voice... Why the hell did she leave 10,000 Maniacs? I wonder if her voices grated their nerves too? Who came up with the name 10,000 Maniacs anyway? I wonder what 10,000 maniacs all together would be like...Why have I not yet changed the station? That lady on Jeopardy last night kinda reminded me of Natalie Merchant. She had that kind of hair...that chick was weird...with wanting to start a female accordian band. Smart people usually are weird though. Especially the ones that have such a wealth of useless knowledge. Funny. I know a lot of people like that. Oh, fuck. I have to go back to work. I wonder if my boss will be gone by the time I get back? what the hell is this car doing in front of me? and what kind of license plate is that? seems like i'm seeing a lot of them lately. oh. New Ohio plates. That makes sense. But fuck you for cutting me off. Drive faster if you're going to get in front of me! Seriously....you cut me off again?! I've got to get around this guy. Or lady with short hair. I think I need to grow my hair out. I'm having a horrible hair day. Guess that's why it's also not a gym-at-lunch day. Sheesh! Maybe i'm just going to start my period? Wouldn't that be a relief? That would explain why I feel like a fucking heffer. But no, it's probably just the whole recovery week thing. Amazing how just a week ago I was feeling fit and invincible. I need the weekend...it's supposed to be 50 and sunny....and we're supposed to ride outside. Oh, that will be nice..."

active recovery

I've had a rough week. just training wise. apparently, my body is still adjusting. as is my mind. the whole idea of off season is rest abd recuperation so as to get refreshed and ready for the next season.

problem: i'm not so good at rest. i try. really. i do.

after a longish moderate run on saturday and then a longish ride on sunday, i decided to take it easy on monday. this included running the mile + to the gym, lifting weights and running back. THEN walking the five miles to work. and later walking the five miles home from work. i loved every minute of it. i ran into friends i hadn't seen in ages! downtown is bumpin' between the hours of 8 and 5:30.

tuesday, i got up and went to masters. i felt very flat. i just didn't really want to be there. after a 900 warm-up, the main set of 14x150 started. aaron moved me to the fastest lane. but as i moaned, he let me do it all freestyle while the others had to alternate free and back. i still struggled. i'd lost my mojo. ZERO competitive edge. when i crawled out of the pool after just one of the 5x100 pulls (and yes, 3k...and practice wasn't yet over!) aaron just said "you're exhausted". Yup! and i'm not even gonna lie and pretend i'm not. it's been a long hard season. he suggested i just do nothing until monday; that i take up knitting or something because i obviously need a hobby. and then said he'd not see me thursday, but he would next tues.

i came home from work last night and made candied pecans. and oreo truffles. and i got 8 hours of sleep.

i woke up feeling refreshed. all day, i was anxious. it was 50 degrees and drizzling. this is my absolute FAVORITE running weather. judi did the track work we were going to do together. i was so jealous.

i allowed myself the fantasy that if i were still feeling good after work that i could go run.

i got home from work and immediately stripped my boots and dress and donned a fleece and my IMKY hat. I headed out. slowly. i crossed the bridge and went through the park along the river. i sang along with my new playlist. i saw a couple rabbits ahead. and i didn't even chase them down. i let the natural progression of my footstrikes catch and then pass them. each time i caught myself inching faster, i eased up. i was at such peace. i was smiling.

an hour later, i was stretching on my front steps, barely having broken a sweat. through all this training, i'd forgotten how to get back to basics and practice active recovery. there was no intensity. there is no need for a massage. or compression tights. it was just getting back to running for the love of running. no gut-burning, i want to shit myself intervals. no i must go out at a 7:30 pace and negative split.

it finally clicked. and i am so happy. my legs are going to come back like i asked if i keep luring them in  with these easy sessions :)